It’s time for a paradigm shift. It’s time to get out of the funk that was 2K11. Pastor Zane put it so poignantly at church this weekend. Living in the grave keeps you from the promise of tomorrow. I never realized how much I have been living in the grave. The grave of my own hurt and offense.
It’s all about perspective. He was so right when he said your life follows your thoughts. That inspired me to do some vision casting for the next chapter of my life. Vision that changes the way I see life. The way I see myself.
Step one – presentation: I want my outward appearance to be a reflection of my core beliefs. I want to look like I took more than 2 seconds to get ready. I guess I need to take more than 2 seconds to get ready. I see myself in sharp clothes that fit. I see myself in shape. I will exude a bold yet refined attitude that says to the world here I am. I am confident and ready. I am not afraid. I will make a lasting impression. I will be comfortable in my own skin.
Step two – job: Thankfully this is already in the works. God seems to have it more in the works than I did when I tried to take the reins this summer.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my job. I love the people I work with. I just feel like God is calling me to do more. Without trying to sound boastful, I am intelligent. I know I can do more and I want to use the gifts He gave me. I find joy in the challenge. Before I was stuck in the thought process of “I need to be humble and grateful for the menial job I have.” The answer is yes – to both. I have realized I am never going to get ahead if I just sit and bitch about my current situation. But I am also not going to get out of it if I don’t do anything about it. Surely nobody else will.
I see myself getting a little dressed up to go to work, because I am excited to be there and feel purposeful. I see myself having confidence in my abilities and my ability to learn. I see this job opening doors. Professionally. Financially. Relationally. Mentally. It already has. People are presenting me with opportunities with better pay and more challenges than I was originally seeking and presenting them as if they are attainable to me. Well by golly, they might be on to something.
Step three –home: It’s a great situation with Aaron now. He can come with. I see myself in a home that affords me the opportunity to open up my home to others. Big parties with friends. Gathering together and breaking bread. My friends have been great, and I feel it’s time to give back. I see myself doing well enough in my career that I’m not barely making it (Thank You God for getting me this far). I see myself in a neighborhood where I can get to know my neighbors and have regular interaction. I see myself in a home I can really take ownership of, not confined by the limits of renting. I’m not saying I will be buying a home in 2012, but I see myself saving towards one.
Step four (possibly 3.5): location. I see myself in a home in a neighborhood with some dynamic. I see myself in the local café or bar chatting with the staff and neighbors whom I’ve gotten to know by name. I see myself in a place where I can meet people in my place in life and build a solid social network with. I see myself in a city where people are invested in the community and are willing to patronize the local business as a part of everyday life. I see myself hanging out in places where I can enjoy beautiful days without hype. I see myself hanging out in places where people are excited about life, not entitled and upset. Chicago…Phoenix… even downtown Tucson. I see myself in a place where desperation is not the norm and people are living functional lives. I see myself in a place where civic pride means something. By civic pride, I do not mean opulence, but rather an attention to detail and general appreciation for the environment. It looks like people give a damn because they do. This place has a sense of place.
Step five (no waiting necessary) – relationships: I already touched on this a bit earlier. I see myself in a solid social circle of people who are reliable and excited about life: people who want to “be out” and explore the world. We will have a local joint. We will practically live at each others’ houses. I see myself with people who want to take trips and do races. I see myself taking trips and doing races. Spontaneously. I see myself with people who don’t have to overanalyze and plan everything: people who just go with the flow and seize every opportunity. I see myself with people who aren’t content just sitting around waiting for life to start. I see myself finding a partner to do life with, someone who shares my vision of getting out there and having some fun, dang nabbit.
This is my vision. Let’s go.
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